How do you tell if a rabbit is pregnant? I'm the one that had a male and female in the same cage and didn't know cause they never fought. The female is fat and the male is normal and they got the same amount of food. Is there a way for sure to tell if she's pregnant. She won't let me pick her up and usually she doesn't do that.

-- Jessica (jaywig86@psknet.com), April 23, 2002

Answers

In my own rabbits, I've noticed that they can sometimes become more aggressive right before they kindle. Give her a nest box NOW if you haven't already. Leave it in with her. Put the buck in another cage. Give her 31 days. If she hasn't given birth by then, then she's not pregnant.

There is a way to feel the doe's belly to check for babies, but that is an acquired skill, and if you don't have someone to show you properly how to do it, you might hurt the doe, or hurt the babies, or she might hurt you! So, I wouldn't suggest it.

If she is a New Zealand or Californian or similiar type of rabbit, she should not be fed more than 1 cup of pellets per day. Supplement that with good grass/alfalfa hay. If she has a litter - then free feed her - let her have all the food she will eat until the babies are weaned.

Best of luck to you!

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), April 23, 2002.

Cherly is correct. When you put the nest box in make sure she has plenty of hay. If she is carrying hay around in her mouth that is also a good sign that she is ready to kindle. Good luck.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), April 23, 2002.

I would also say add some oat straw if you can get some. It is soft and absorbant. Gestation is about 28 days. I wouldn't handle her too much especially as her time gets close. Rabbits like to feel secure and if she is a first time mom she will be nervous.

Good luck!

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 23, 2002.

So Jessica, did you check out the Rabbit forums I posted for you? Those sites discuss this in detail and are interesting reading. ARE you serious about learning? Do your homework. It will increase your enjoyment a lot if you take the trouble to look into this stuff. If I can help you get to the Rabbit sites, just hollar. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 23, 2002.